Mechanism for selecting and controlling the raising of needles in circular and flat bed knitting machines, having a plurality of adjacent needles, with electronic programming control

Abstract

A mechanism selects and controls the raising and lowering of needles in circular and flat bed knitting machines having a plurality of adjacent needles. A rocking pusher is provided for each needle to move each needle back and forth between an outwardly projecting active position and an inward inactive position. Each rocking pusher is engaged with a corresponding cam when the needle is in the engaged position, and is disengaged from the cam in the inactive position. A deflector corresponds to each rocking pusher, and is engageable with a cam profile, which determines the movement of the deflector for its engagement with the rocking pusher. This moves the rocking pusher from the active position to the inactive position. A controllable retaining member engages the deflector to cause the engagement of the deflector with the cam profile. The retaining member is controlled by a control program member, which is controlled by a control program.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A mechanism for selecting and controlling the raising of needles in circular and flat bed knitting machines having a plurality of adjacent needles, comprising: a rocking pusher member for each needle movable between an outwardly extending active position, in engagement with a raising profile, and an inward inactive position, disengaged from the raising profile;   a deflector for each said pusher and engageable therewith;   a cam profile for each said deflector and engageable therewith, having a plurality of radial protuberances having predetermined arcs, each said profile determining the movement of each corresponding said deflector into engagement with its corresponding said pusher and the movement of said pusher from the active position to the inactive position;   a controllable retaining member provided for each said deflector for engaging its corresponding said deflector with its corresponding said cam profile;   a program control member, corresponding to and for activating each said retaining member to cause the engagement of its corresponding said deflector with its corresponding said cam profile in any of said radial protuberances in response to a control program.   
     
     
       2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein each said deflector is provided with a spring member adapted to urge said deflector to the position of engagement with the corresponding cam profile, there being provided for each said deflector said controllable retaining member having a retaining tooth for engaging a portion of the deflector in antagonism with the action of the spring member, disengageable therefrom on receipt of a selection command. 
     
     
       3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein each said deflector may act on its corresponding said rocking pusher, moving it from the active position to the inactive position, in any one of several selection points provided by the mechanism, determining different raising strokes for each needle according to the control program in use. 
     
     
       4. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein each said deflector is angularly and radially movable and is provided with a radially and axially operative butt and wherein for engagement with said butt there is provided the cam profile having inwardly directed, radially operative protuberances in correspondence with the contemplated points of selection of the raising heights, having furthermore an axially operative protuberance pivoting the deflector towards the position of disengagement from the cam profile and engagement with the tooth of the retaining member. 
     
     
       5. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein each said rocking pusher is provided with spring means adapted to urge said rocking pusher radially outwards. 
     
     
       6. The mechanism of claim 5, wherein each said deflector comprises a sheet-like member rockingly supported with the axis thereof on a horizontal plane and inwardly movable under the action of a cam profile situated thereabove, and is provided with spring means adapted to urge said deflector upwardly into engagement with said cam profile and a portion capable of engagement with the tooth of the corresponding retaining member. 
     
     
       7. The mechanism of claim 6, wherein the spring means provided for each said rocking pusher and the spring means provided for each said deflector comprise needle-shaped springs. 
     
     
       8. The mechanism of claim 6, wherein the rocking pusher is an integral portion of the needle corresponding thereto. 
     
     
       9. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the retaining tooth of each said retaining member is controllable by a leaf spring movable by an activator for raising and lowering the retaining tooth with respect to its corresponding said deflector. 
     
     
       10. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the retaining tooth of each said retaining member is directly supported by an activator, which raises and lowers the retaining tooth with respect to its corresponding said deflector. 
     
     
       11. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the retaining tooth of each said retaining member acts upon its corresponding said deflector perpendicularly to pivoting axis of its corresponding said deflector. 
     
     
       12. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the retaining tooth of each said retaining member acts upon its corresponding said detector parallel to the pivoting axis of its corresponding said deflector. 
     
     
       13. The mechanism of claim 9, wherein the activator is a sheet-like piezoelectric member adapted to initiate, when energized, the selection sequence with the release of the tooth of the retaining member from the engagement thereof with the deflector. 
     
     
       14. The mechanism of claim 13, wherein the piezoelectric activators are connected to electronic components rotating with the cylindrical body carrying the machine needles, and which may be driven by external commands from a programme control member. 
     
     
       15. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the external commands are transmitted to the electronic components connected to the piezoelectric members by air, through optical members acting on the corresponding sensors associated with the electronic control components of the individual deflectors, there being also provided optical selection means associated with a rotating comb-like member and adapted to ensure the synchronization and phasing of the rotating parts with the programme control member. 
     
     
       16. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein two or more retaining members, with their respective teeth and with the corresponding electronic components, are supported on a plug-in type support disposed in an axial plane and capable of being independently, preferably radially, unplugged from the corresponding seat in the machine body. 
     
     
       17. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the spring means means provided for each said rocking pusher and the spring means provided for each said deflector are integral with each said rocking pusher and each said deflector, respectively. 
     
     
       18. The mechanism of claim 10, wherein the activator is a sheet-like piezoelectric member adapted to initiate, when energized, the selection sequence with the release of the tooth of the retaining member from the engagement thereof with the deflector.